Mental Floss

THE '80S

Val Kilmer stars in Martha Coolidge's Real Genius (1985).

Martha Coolidge's 1985 film 'Real Genius,' starring Val Kilmer, ranked first among equals from that decade for its stellar cast, sensitive direction, and genuine-nerd bona fides.

Todd Gilchrist






Matthew Peyton/Getty Images

Pro wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper was known for his Scottish kilt and bagpipes, but he was also a serious martial artist and even recorded a pop song.

Jake Rossen


L to R: Beastie Boys Ad-Rock (Adam Horowitz), MCA (Adam Yauch), and Mike D (Michael Diamond) pose in Portugal 1998.

Though Beastie Boys effectively disbanded following the 2012 death of Adam "MCA" Yauch, the band has been collecting fans for more than 40 years with its uniquely intoxicating, and ever-evolving, sound.

Todd Gilchrist








Jean-Claude Van Damme.

Jean-Claude Van Damme—a.k.a. The "Muscles from Brussels"—has had a long and storied career full of highs and lows, including the time he threw a papaya at a producer's head.

Jake Rossen








Cornellier, Wikimedia// CC BY-SA 4.0

In the first edition of "Throwback," our all-new YouTube series, we take a deep dive into the bizarre history of Sea-Monkeys and Harold von Braunhut, the man who created them—then funneled the millions he made into illegal activities.

Alvin Ward